MLB Player News

Maldonado is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.

Maldonado is getting a routine breather after catching each of the Royals' past three games. Cam Gallagher will step in behind the plate as a battery mate for starting pitcher Heath Fillmyer.

Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 6-4 victory over the Rays on Friday.

Like a lot of Red Sox hitters, Vazquez has struggled early this year, but he does appear to be coming on a bit, going 3-for-8 with two homers in the last two games. Vazquez also has four RBI in the last couple of contests. He is batting .224 with four homers, 10 RBI, eight runs and a steal in 49 at-bats.

Contreras went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk in Friday's win over the Diamondbacks.

Contreras tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning on a single to right center, extending the Cubs' lead to five. The 26-year-old backstop has notched a base knock in five of his past six games and is 8-for-22 with three homers and six RBI over that stretch.

Higashioka is catching and hitting eighth against the Royals on Friday.

Austin Romine will take a seat as Higashioka starts behind the dish for the first time in three games. The 28-year-old has just five at-bats since getting called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he could get sent back down soon with Gary Sanchez progressing from the calf injury that landed him on the injured list.

Sanchez (calf) is expected to come off the IL during the Yankees' upcoming west coast road trip, which begins Monday against the Angels, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez is eligible to return Sunday but he will apparently require a little extra time before being activated. According to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, manager Aaron Boone also said Sanchez will likely need one or two rehab games before rejoining the lineup, which makes an early week activation seem fairly improbable.

Gomes is on the bench Friday against the Marlins, Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports.

Gomes hit .300 through his first eight games but has since gone hitless in his last three. He sits in favor of Kurt Suzuki for the third time in four games.

Barnhart is not in the lineup for Friday's game at San Diego.

The 28-year-old has alternated starts with Curt Casali over the last five games. Barnhart has enjoyed a solid start to the season by slashing .263/.404/.395 with a 9:7 BB:K over 47 plate appearances.

Realmuto went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Thursday against the Rockies.

Realmuto's homer, his third of the season, was a one-out shot in the seventh inning off Carlos Estevez which brought the Phillies to within one run. After a slow start, the catcher has hit .342/.375/.553 over his last 10 games.

Narvaez went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, four RBI, three runs and two walks in the Mariners' 11-10 victory over the Angels on Thursday.

The backstop was all over the place in this contest, reaching base five times and launching a three-run bomb off Jake Jewell in the seventh inning for his fourth long ball of the season. The big day at the dish boosts the 27-year-old's slash line up to a solid .297/.348/.500 over 64 at-bats.

Nicholas agreed to a minor-league deal with the White Sox earlier this month, Kegan Lowe of Baseball America reports.

Nicholas attended spring training with the Rockies but was released from the organization at the conclusion of camp. With top catching prospects Zack Collins and Seby Zavala both on hand at Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox may elect to send Nicholas to Double-A Birmingham.